10 March 2007
Dalai Lama marks 48th anniversary of Lhasa Uprising
In a statement to Tibetans and their supporters to mark the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan National Uprising on 10 March, the Dalai Lama said that his call for a single administration of all Tibetans within the People’s Republic of China is "sincere, just and transparent". In his annual statement to mark the 48th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising, he said that only such a meaningful autonomy would provide real benefits "for both the majority and the minority nationalities as well as the central and local governments". In his statement, the Dalai Lama said that it is the "sacred duty"' of all Tibetans to "continue our struggle towards fulfilling this reasonable demand" of a single administrative entity, adding: "Our courage and determination shall remain unchanged until we fulfill our aspirations". In a separate statement the Tibetan government in exile reiterated his views, saying that the past should not "form the basis for resolving the future status of Tibet". The day was marked by demonstrations in major cities across the world by exiled Tibetans and Tibet supporters. This included the first street demonstration by Tibetans in Kathmandu in over a decade. The demonstration began in Baudha and was observed passively by a few policemen. The protesters then marched towards the Chinese embassy and were finally stopped by a police detachment close by. There were no clashes.